Endorsement: Bush for Senate Dist. 31

One would be hard put to find a more conscientious or diligent lawmaker from either party than Grayslake Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush. Among many legislative accomplishments, Bush was an architect and prominent cheerleader for the strongly bipartisan school funding reform that provided additional funding and greater equity to schools across the state under the Rauner administration. When you ask what she would like to accomplish in a third term, she immediately rattles off ideas related to opioid addiction, mental health care and environmental protection. Which is not to say she is reticent on more popular topics like ethics, taxation or criminal justice reform. She is candidly outspoken on these issues as well, and has shown particular leadership in calling for detailed changes in ethics policy, including statutory term limits for lawmakers in leadership positions and lobbying reform that doesn't apply just to legislators but also extends to high-ranking legislative staff members.

She is challenged in her bid for re-election in state Senate District 31 by Republican Christopher Kasperski, a political consultant and retired U.S. Army combat engineer. Kasperski is an independent-minded conservative critical of the state's financial management and eager to discuss changes he would press for in the areas of ethics and taxation.

But Bush has staked out solid territory in all these areas and is in a position to influence moving them in directions that will benefit District 31 and the entire state. She is endorsed.

District 31 covers a large portion of northeastern Illinois, stretching from parts of Wauconda to the state line, including all or parts of Gurnee, Grayslake, Zion, Antioch and more.